ALPINE- Men's basketball shrank a 16-point halftime deficit down to three but couldn't come all the way back in a 73-66 Friday loss to LeTourneau in the ASC Semifinals.
The Lobos got out to an early 4-0 lead on a
Tristen Licon jumper and
Logan Dixon layup just 1:56 into the game.
The Yellowjackets offense came back with a 9-1 answer for their first lead of the half at 9-5.
Jake Lopez and Licon each cut the deficit back to two but saw LeTourneau use a 10-0 run for a 22-10 lead with 11:32 left in the first.
Cole Avery and Dixon both hit triples in the next sixty seconds to trail by six.
Avery sank another three with just under seven minutes left to trail 27-23.
The Yellowjackets spent the remainder of the half on a 16-4 run to lead 43-27 heading to the break.
LeTourneau upped their lead to 18 to start the second half before
Cailen Bond scored five in a row to start a 7-0 run. Lopez ended the streak with a layup for a 45-34 score at 18:22.
The Yellowjackets eventually increased their lead to 52-34 ona 7-0 run.
Sul Ross was resilient and slowly narrowed the gap to four with 8:26 remaining on a 20-4 run.
Jezreel Griffin added six during the run and a sizable amount came from the free throw line line. The Lobos shot 7-for-7 from the charity stripe during the stretch with Avery sinking four and Licon three for a 58-54 score.
LeTourneau hit a three the next time down the floor for the start of a 6-0 run to lead by 10 with 7:34 left.
That lead eventually grew to 11 before Sul Ross again fought back and this time got within three with a 7-0 run.
Aaron Anderson and Licon both sank a pair of free throws before
Jake Lopez was fouled on a made bucket and hit his free throw. Avery later approached the line and hit the first of two free throws for a 67-64 score with 3:02 remaining.
The Lobos possessed the ball with a chance to tie but couldn't convert on their next two attempts. At that point the game came down to free throws. The Yellowjackets shot just 6-for-10 at the line down the stretch but made it enough for a 73-66 final over Sul Ross.
Licon finished with a team-high 19 points.
Avery scored 13 in his final collegiate game and added eight rebounds.
The West Division champs finish the season 17-10.
